The Times' Rankings

*--* Rk Team (rec.) Comment (last week's position) 1 DALLAS (27-5) After Cuban gave LaFrentz $69 million, Mavericks just noticed Raef's laid-back. (1) 2 SACRAMENTO (24-9) Haven't had all top eight guys yet and now Bobby Jackson is out until Feb. 15. (2) 3 NEW JERSEY (25-9) Made this run with 11 of 14 at home, now taking it on road for 10 of 12. (3) 4 INDIANA (23-10) Best young whacko: Artest gets three games off for tossing a TV camera. (5) 5 DETROIT (21-10) After this they'll have $8 million of cap space, Grizzlies' No. 1 unless it's No. 1. (6) 6 SAN ANTONIO (20-13) Oops: Drive to top is interrupted by losses to the Knicks, Wizards and Hawks. (4) 7 PHOENIX (21-12) Stoudemire went from 8.4 in November to 15.4 last month and isn't done yet. (8) 8 PORTLAND (19-12) Wells has a lot of growing up to do, but he can play, averaging 23 in 9-1 spurt. (12) 9 HOUSTON (17-14) Remember Mo Taylor? For $7 million a year, Rockets get 6.1 points, 3.0 rebounds.(11) 10 BOSTON (19-13) Tony Battie, closest Celtics have to big man, looking at having knee 'scoped. (10) 11 UTAH (19-13) Aging gracefully but inevitably, Mailman at 18 points, career-low 42%. (14) 12 NEW ORLEANS (19-15) 2-7 since win over Lakers as Baron's back finally forces him to bench. (7) 13 PHILADELPHIA (19-14) 1-5 trip, three losses by 18 or more, drops 76ers from overachiever ranks. (9) 14 MINNESOTA (17-15) Miracle is Timberwolves this good with Sczcerbiak playing only four games. (13) 15 ORLANDO (18-17) Grant Hill's career, Magic's season again in limbo as puzzled doctors confer. (16) 16 SEATTLE (16-16) Payton reportedly set on leaving, SuperSonics reportedly set on starting over. (15) 17 WASHINGTON (16-17) After scoring 30 back-to-back, Jordan slides, before getting 41 Saturday. (19) 18 GOLDEN STATE (13-19) Once NBA's worst underachievers, Warriors just moved ahead of both L.A. teams. (23) 19 LAKERS (13-20) It's about schedule, opportunity now: With next four here, can use 4-0. (18) 20 ATLANTA (12-20) How'd you like your honeymoon? Stotts wins his debut, loses next three. (20) 21 MILWAUKEE (13-19) Only fact Bucks still owe Karl $7 million may keep him there past April. (21) 22 NEW YORK (12-17) Not exactly rebuilding with one starter under 30, but Knicks 11-8 with Sprewell.(22) 23 CLIPPERS (12-21) History says they'll wind up with LeBron James, then in five years, let him walk. (17) 24 CHICAGO (12-21) Krause, who said it was hard to build around guard, finds something harder. (24) 25 MEMPHIS (10-22) Long West Coast trip coming, but since their 2-18 start, Grizzlies have gone 8-4. (25) 26 MIAMI (12-20) Paranoia as motivational tool: 6-2 since Riley said refs are out to get him. (26) 27 CLEVELAND (7-28) Miles is bust to date with knee, back, jumper (37%), average (9.6) hurting. (28) 28 TORONTO (8-25) As if anyone would notice he was gone: Papers say Raptors shopping Carter. (27) 29 DENVER (7-25) Who are Lorinza Harrington, Donnell Harvey, Vincent Yarbrough? Starters. (29)